May 27, 2009

Domo-kun — famous mascot of Japan’s NHK TV station, Target’s Halloween/Easter party animal, and known eater of kittens when you do something naughty — is ready for a new opponent: the slurpee! Yep, Domo-kun will be coming to a 7-Eleven near you this October in a campaign to rule your slurpees and get his very first U.S. DVD release.

A six-week program, hitting Oct. 1, includes a proprietary Domo Slurpee in Red Apple flavor, which will be sold in a still-in-development brown-flocked cup to match the creature’s coat. Special straws featuring detachable fuzzy Domos in hip hop and wrestling costumes are being discussed. A Domo Attack! energy drink and other licensed merch is also on the table.

Why Red Apple? “Because Domo doesn’t like apples,” said Rich Collins, CEO of Big Tent Entertainment, who described the deal as a 360 program that’s a perfect match for 7-Eleven’s teens and young adults and the Domo demo. “That way you don’t have to worry about Domo stealing your Slurpee.” Big Tent currently serves as Domo’s worldwide marketing and licensing agent outside of Asia.

Evan Brody, marketing manager for Slurpee and Big Gulp Brands, was a bit less fanciful: “Domo lends itself well to the store and our proprietary products and our consumers who… love crazy Japanese shit.”

Marketing will include Webisodes this fall that relate Domo’s quest for a Slurpee and how he gets a brain freeze in the process.

Part of the fuzzy rectangular critter’s lore is that he’s egg-hatched and has a habit of passing gas. Domo began life as the mascot for Japanese TV station NHK, and caught on as a viral sensation with cameos in Web videos. He’s best known here for his video shorts on Nickelodeon.

Licensee Dark Horse will produce a line of exclusive Domo designer toys and Tokyopop will debut an abbreviated version of its fall-release Domo Manga comic book for 7-Eleven. Phase 4 will launch the first Domo DVD in the U.S., which will be a roundup of shorts, Webisodes, fan-created animations, commercials, Japanese spots and other quirky stuff.